Modifying Auto on the Column Steering Collars - NO Welding Required!!

way back in late 90's I had a 73 or 4 duster slant, 3 on tree, I converted to 318 4 speed/ I did similar conversion to col to get rid of the shifter. if I remember right, I used couple layers of duck tape inside col to give bottom to the hole,,,, then used kitty hair body filler to fill the hole , ground that down and finished with slight layer of reg filler, you could not ell the changed and when I sold it 3 years later still looked like factory.
some times these "incorrect" ways of doing things work JUST fine!!!!!